I had my header installed by the owner of a reptuable local speed shop that tune's mostly R's but, they also frequently have other high-end cars like Alfas and Ferarris. They also have their own R racing team. Enough about that right?


Well, I guess everybody with a Spoon header on order or just wants one or is curious if the piece is worth it should be interested to know just how it feels. To start I am very satisfied with the overall quality and construction of the Spoon piece. It is like looking at modern art, at least if you can appreciate looking at it as compared to a Comptech or JDM/OEM piece.

How it went on. I decided to go to the shop after looking closely at the Carsound cat with a buddy of mine, Rodney. As you line up the flange of the cat to the EOM flange it is just a little off with the bolt pattern. We were concerned about the fit and I decided to use the shop since they, "if they had to" would just fabricate a better fitting section or fix it so it would work.

It went on without a hitch. The Carsound cat #9004 fit pretty well and looks just fine. It's too bad that the whole catback isn't 2.5" like the header collector and cat. I guess I'll just have to remedy that soon too.

THE FEEL: Ok here it goes. Unfortuneately I had to wait till the thunderstorms let up to even go WOT! When you let it rip it feels very similar to stock down at the bottom end, then the mid picks up a little and I mean a little "not noticeable very much." It retains the stock power and torque. I noticed the minor mid gains as I accelerated up a hill in 3rd to 4th. Then as you pull from 4500 it starts to growl louder and as you hit 5000 and on to 5500 and 5700 it pulls stronger for sure. Now this is not rocketship pull But, I can certainly tell a difference. The VTEC crossover becomes smoother and not as abrupt during throttle response. I mean it pulls harder after VTEC and is louder from my CAI and the exhaust but it feels smoother.

The power from 6500 to 8500 is where it's sweet spot comes alive! Coupled with the smoother feeling comes a helluva stronger pull to 8400 RPM. It certainly makes me a believer in adjusting the ECU for my future. It pulls so much stronger at 8K till 8500 that I almost want to rev higher just for ***** and giggles. 98 ECU here I come!!!

THE SOUND: It is definately a little louder at the intake "mines a Comptech icebox with short-ram." It sounds deeper and a little more agressive down low. When VTEC hits it blows open and sounds really nice like a growl or growling howl, NOT like the hissing jet engine whine of the AEM.

The exhaust is more pronounced with the same sound, just a little more growl, "which I like." I hate those loud as Hell coffee cans that all the local boys have and I don't want too much law man attention so my sound is just fine.

BUT, the cat I believe is the culprit for a hissing and tinny sound. It is NOT loud or bothersome but rather more annoying than anything. I feel that it does a good job as a universal fit piece but I'm gonna look to try something different.


ALL IN ALL: I am pleased. Yes it feels different and No it is NOT staggering, C'mon it's just a header. But I kept in mind what I wanted out of a Header when I drive it. I was NOT pleased when I installed my DC sports 4-2-1 on my old LS! It, combined with my Greddy EVO catback actually robbed my LS of torque and power. Now my Spoon header on the other hand feels right for my R. It has the torque and power it had before and certainly alot more where my engine sings. Well worth it! And I guess you'll just have to spend the almost $1000. to get the right gains.

So all of what is posted about the Spoon header as pertaining to gains and feel is true so far as I'm concerned. I will dyno it, and post it soon. I think Rodney should accompany me with his B18C5 Civic Type R just for fun.

WHAT I PLAN ON DOING NOW: I'm gonna have Anthony "the owner of the speed shop" fabricate an attachment for the header so it will connect to the stock attachment points for better durability. I am also interested in him aquiring a JDM Cat and hooking that up to a custom catback that they manufacture and import for their racing R's. He assures me that his setup will be quieter than the race pipes since they use a different muffler than the race setup. Next I'll be doing a 493 final drive install, Volk TE-37's and a complete debadgeing with a substitute black chrome emblem set, and removal of the ever present WING!!!

As always Good luck to everyone else and if you have any constructive questions/comments please feel free to post.

Thanks to Mike "TypeRmsm" @ IPS racing, Rodney, and Anthony @ the Meccanic shop North and to Racing craft his company.

A.

PS I'd post PICS of the header but, there are some on here already and my camera battery died last night just as I was gonna take a couple of snaps. I was also gonna shoot the install but awww F*ck it, a Spoon header looks just like another Spoon header so I didn't.




[Modified by 1GreyTeg, 3:00 PM 8/20/2001]


[Modified by 1GreyTeg, 3:06 PM 8/20/2001]

 

A. - does the header hang a lot lower than the stock one? I've heard that they sit lower and can cause problems over big bumps. Thanks.

 

they do sit lower than stock and other aftermarket headers that I have seen...I have not had any problems with it...it sits low right where the wheels are, so for like speed bumps it's not a problem (unless you were to go too fast over it)

I also just obtained a Spoon front lower arm bar, which actually sits below the header, I'm a little worried about that, but I'm gonna try it anyway.

 

No, very minimal difference in it hanging lower. Maybe half an inch to 1 inch tops. I'd only expect a problem if the car was lowered and/or I hit a BIG F*ckin bump!

A.

 

There are some big differences when comparing the OEM USDM ITR header and the Spoon piece.

1st, the OEM is Cast and heavy as Hell. It's gotta be at least 10 lbs. heavier than the Spoon piece.

2nd, the Spoon is a 1 piece and that must contribute to a better flow of exhaust gasses.

3rd the OEM's pipe is a smaller diameter and shroud in an outer layer of Aluminum or SS I can't tell.

Most of all What I notice besides gains when I drive with it on is the weight difference. Geez the OEM is heavy as Hell!!!

A.

PS maybe I should get Rodney to accurately weigh it???

 

i've had my spoon header on for about 6 months now. last week when i had my wheels put on i realised that i had dented my header . the sad thing is, it happened on my way to the shop to get the wheels on.

be careful over steep driveways!!

argiris

 

Thanks,

But when I looked at it from underneith and as it sits on the road it doesn't seem too close to the road. And it looks like it has more than enough clearance.

Sorry to hear about your dent argiris that sucks.

Good luck in the future,

A.

 

yeah, i does suck when you have to replace something like this. i don't feel a difference, but i know it has to be restricting flow. i've been under my car quite a few times since we installed the header, and it always looked fine. i never thought it hung too low.

argiris

 

I too dented my header on the number 3 pipe....
As far as flow restriction, I'll assume it isn't too bad... at the same time I'm thinking of selling it for a Toda header. Would anyone be interested if I sold my Spoon header???

 

Sweet! Good luck with it!

 

 

hey 1grey, i smashed my spoon last night on her maiden voyage. don't lower it too much, otherwise that dip in the road will become expensive! oh, Racing Craft is yasu's company, not anthony's. call me, i'll take you for a ride in the untuned civic

 

Very nice 1greyteg!! You can see firsthand why it was one of my recommendations to everyone!

When I get a nice header for the engine swap eventually, I am going to fabricat some kind of base plat/undercarriage tray to protect the header. It will be worth the extra few pounds to protect a thousand dollar investment ....

 

I would think it's possible to fabricate the jdm ITR "lower heat shield" for added protection...

just an idea

 

FYI-

I can build one of my B18VTEC headers so that it is not any lower than your oil pan. You just can't run the tranny to block supports.